In an unannounced collective action, workers at baggage handler Aviapartner stopped work at Brussels Airport at around 06:30 on Saturday, causing some flights to be delayed and others to take off without their baggage on the first day of Belgium's Carnival holiday.
The company Aviapartner handles the baggage of more than 40% of the flights at Brussels Airport. "The work stoppage is impacting several flights of the tour operator Tui, with delays ranging from 15 minutes to 1.5 hours and departures without baggage," airport spokeswoman Nathalie Pierard confirmed.
For those flights that depart without passenger baggage, the luggage will be transported to its respective destination at a later date.
A meeting of staff that are taking action has been underway since 08:30. Those on strike hope to speak with airport management soon. According to trade unionist Björn Vanden Eynde (ACV Transcom), the 50 workers on the morning shift have decided collectively to stop work.
Aviapartner workers handling baggage during a press visit to Brussels Airport in 2014. BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND
Vanden Eynde cited an excessive workload and a disagreement about which handlers can drive the baggage vehicles. He explained that driver's licences for these "work with points, which are deducted all the time without colleagues being informed." This complicates their job and slows down the operation.
"We are still only at the beginning of the Carnival holidays, and the pressure is already too high," he says. "Last summer was chaos. We fear that next summer will be the same. There has been recruitment, but the process is behind schedule. Being a baggage handler is a difficult job, which is not well paid and requires a lot of flexibility," he explains.
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Aviapartner handles baggage for flights of Tui, KLM, TAP, Iberia and British Airways, among others. Brussels Airlines, which works with baggage handler Alyzia, is not affected by the strike.
Some 48,000 people are expected to arrive at Brussels Airport this Saturday, with 60,000 expected on Sunday. The airport is advising travellers to check its website to see if their flight is affected by the Aviapartner work stoppage.
A meeting of workers has been underway since 08:30. Strikers hope to speak with management on site.
